Giving your consent to receive treatment

 

This excerpt it taken from the Consent to Treatment and Health Questionnaire Form

​​

​

Consent to Treatment

​

You have the right, as the patient, to be informed about your condition as diagnosed by your practitioner. This includes their assessment of the likelihood of success and the number of treatments that may be required. You also have a right to understand the nature of an acupuncture and massage treatment and any adjunctive techniques that will be used: such as moxibustion, cupping, guasha, tuina, electro acupuncture, and heat lamp. In addition to the potential benefits, you should be aware of the risks of having treatment. This form provides information on each of these issues. Please ask your acupuncturist further questions if necessary. You should also feel free to seek advice from other healthcare professionals, such as your GP. It is important that you understand what is involved in treatment, the risks, and benefits, prior to making the decision whether to have acupuncture.

 

Please note, consent is an ongoing process, and you have the right to withdraw your consent to treatment at any point.

 

​

​

​

Acupuncture, moxibustion, massage and adjunct therapies

 

Acupuncture is a form of therapy in which fine, single use, sterile needles are gently inserted into specific acupuncture points in the body. Generally, the points most commonly used are on the lower arms, lower legs, abdomen and back. Electro acupuncture uses a battery-operated device to connect specialised wires with crocodile clips to your acupuncture needles to pass a gentle tingly current between the needles.

 

Acupuncturists sometimes use forms of heat to warm the body using moxibustion, which is the burning of Chinese mugwort (artemisia argyi) to gently warm acupuncture points and areas of the body. There are different techniques such as placing the moxa on the handle of a needle, a moxa stick, or placing moxa cones on the skin or using moxa self-warming patches.

 

A TDP Heat Lamp provides therapeutic heat to warm areas of the body

 

Cupping uses a class cup to create a partial vacuum on the skin.  This produces a suction effect. The vacuum is produced either by fire (traditional method which removes the oxygen first from the cup by introducing a flame briefly to the inside of the cup) or by a pump.

 

Massage is a hands-on therapy which aims to optimise the health of your muscles and soft tissue with movements which press, push, and move the soft tissue. Sports and Remedial Massage can also be termed Soft Tissue Therapy (which is more recent terminology). Tuina is traditional Chinese massage working on the acupuncture points and soft tissue. Guasha uses a tool to repeatedly stroke the skin to alleviate tension.

 

You will receive treatment in your underwear, and you will be covered with a comfy blanket throughout. Areas which require acupuncture or massage will be exposed, and other blankets draped to keep you warm and covered. You will be given complete privacy whilst you undress.

 

It is your responsibility to keep your practitioner informed about areas of your body which you feel a sense of unease about being treated, for example due to trauma or being body-conscious. These areas are easily avoided and other acupuncture points can be found as alternatives.

 

​

​

Risks

 

Side effects for both massage and acupuncture may include drowsiness, minor bruising, or fainting but these are generally rare. Other complications may be temporary pain around the acupuncture site or massage site.

 

There have been a number of scientific papers published on the safety of acupuncture 1-4. These have concluded that acupuncture is safe so long as it is delivered by a properly trained individual. Therefore, we recommend that you ensure your acupuncturist belongs to a professional organisation such as the British Acupuncture Council.

 

As acupuncture involves the insertion of needles there will sometimes be a small bruise or bleeding. Approximately 6% of people who have ten acupuncture sessions will report a bruise or minor bleeding.

 

Occasionally, people can feel dizzy or nauseous during or after treatment and, on very rare occasions, may lose consciousness (faint). Approximately 0.2% of people who have a course of 10 sessions of acupuncture will feel dizzy. Approximately 0.14% of people who have a course of 10 sessions of acupuncture will feel nauseous. In extremely rare cases (0.03%), people lose consciousness. Sometimes people feel tired after a treatment or experience headache, local muscle pain or strong pain during needling. These side effects are classed as ‘uncommon’, affecting up to 10 of every 1,000 people treated.

 

Potential risks are the same for electro acupuncture, especially if you are very weak, prone to fainting, or have low blood pressure (and contraindicated conditions are avoided).

 

The above effects are to some extent an unavoidable part of acupuncture. However, the risks can still be minimised. Please let your acupuncturist know if you feel hot, or the room is stuffy, or you are hungry/thirsty, or you are especially nervous. This should help reduce the chances of dizziness and nausea. Please also let them know any medications that you are taking, such as anti-coagulants.

 

As the acupuncture involves piercing the skin there is a risk of infection at the needle site. The estimated risk is 1 to 10 of every 10,000 people treated. BAcC acupuncturists are trained, and bound by our Professional Codes, to provide acupuncture hygienically.

 

Serious adverse events such as pneumothorax (piercing the lung/perforation of the lung lining) and nerve injury can occur. However, these are very rare, and the risk is reduced by seeing a well-trained acupuncturist. In 2.2 million treatments pneumothorax occurred twice and nerve injury 31 times. One of the people who had a pneumothorax needed hospital treatment, the other required observation only. The longest duration of any side-effect was 180 days (nerve injury). No permanent injuries or deaths were associated with the acupuncture treatments 2. If you received acupuncture on the upper back or shoulder and then experience any severe, gradual or sudden onset of pain over the chest, potentially combined with difficulty in breathing please seek immediate medical attention. These are the signs of pneumothorax. Although a pneumothorax from acupuncture is extremely rare, it is a serious condition. Prompt medical treatment can ensure a full recovery and prevent any long-term consequences.

​

Post-massage muscle ache is common the day following a treatment, but this should be minimal- if you experience a lot, please inform your practitioner as they will make the massage lighter next time. Bruising from massage should not happen but there is a risk of this, inform your practitioner so that they can adapt the approach the following time. Occasionally people may feel light headed, dizzy, tired, or have a headache after massage. Please let the practitioner know if the room feels too hot or stuffy, if you are especially nervous, or if you feel hungry or thirsty.

 

Both cupping and guasha can lead to dark/purple patches on the skin. This is often an expected part of treatment. You may have seen dark rings from cupping on elite athletes such as swimmers. These marks disappear after a few days.

 

Cupping (fire cupping) and moxibustion both carry a risk of accidental burns. Burns from moxibustion are estimated to occur once in 1000 to 5000 treatments1.

 

TDP and far-infrared heat lamps are considered generally safe for use in most cases. There is a small risk of thermal injury, which can range from superficial redness to deep tissue burns. Increased skin sensitivity and conditions not suitable for heat lamps were discussed in the contraindication section.  If at any point the lamp feels too hot you agree to immediately inform the practitioner so they can immediately remove it. The practitioner will regularly check the temperature of the lamp on your skin.

 

​

​

Please choose which treatments you consent to receive if advised by the practitioner

 

Acupuncture

Electro acupuncture

Moxibustion (Moxa)

Massage

Cupping

Tui na (traditional Chinese massage)

Gua sha (tool to repetitively stroke the skin)

Heat Lamp

 

​

​

Aftercare

​

Try to keep the needle, cupping, moxa and guasha sites clean immediately after treatment. It is generally best to avoid strenuous activity after treatment, and you may feel you’d like to rest. Sometimes people feel a dull ache at the needle sites after treatment. This is normal and nothing to worry about.  If you experience any effects after treatment that you are concerned about, please contact your practitioner and/or seek medical attention. For example, if a needle site becomes red or inflamed.

​

After each session, please follow the aftercare advice below for 12-24 hours where possible.

​​

Avoid a lot of tea and coffee

Avoid very hot spicy foods

Avoid alcohol

Drink plenty of water or herbal tea (but never excessively more than your normal fluid intake)

Ventilate the car on the drive home as you may feel sleepy

Avoid strenuous exercises

Eat light meals- and please make sure you DO eat (also make sure you have eaten a light meal and are well hydrated before your treatment)

Rest and relax as much as possible

Avoid saunas

Take note of how you feel after the treatment and in the week afterwards. This can be useful in formulating your treatment plan.

 

​

​

I agree and consent

 

I understand that my personal data will be held in accordance with the law and with the Data Protection Policy for a period of 7 years from my last treatment. After this time it will be securely destroyed. If you have treatment with a locum practitioner whilst I am away, your notes will be shared with them.

 

In exception situations, disclosure of your confidential information may be required. This will happen in cases of safeguarding issues, criminal issues, and concern over the patient’s own health or other’s health.

 

I will be clear to my practitioner if there is something I am uncomfortable with and I understand that I have the ability to ask questions.

 

I understand that I must disclose my medical history, illnesses and medication to my practitioner, and update this as and when it changes. The information regarding my symptoms and lifestyle I have given is an honest and true reflection of my health. I understand that not doing this could increase the likelihood of adverse reactions.

 

I have read and understood the potential risks of treatment. I have completed the cautions, contraindications and red flags truthfully and understand and accept liability for the risks associated with having treatment. I understand by signing this form I am giving written consent receive the treatments I have ticked, and by attending appointments I am giving my consent to receive treatment each time. I also understand that I am free to withdraw my consent at any time. I understand I have the right to not have treatment and I will be clear if there is something I am uncomfortable with.

 

I agree to comply with the 72 hour cancellation period and that late cancellations or missed appointments will be charged in full. I have read and agree to the cancellation policy in my booking email. It is better to cancel if you are poorly with an active virus, and there is no charge to cancel due to illness (please get in touch asap, and discuss with your practitioner if you are at the tail end of an illness).

 

I understand that payment is required in full for each treatment booked in line terms and conditions here.

​

I have read and understood this form, and had the opportunity to contact the practitioner to ask questions.

​

I agree to terms and conditions here.

​

I agree and give consent. 

​

​

​

References

​​

The British Acupuncture Council (2022) Consent to Acupuncture Form

Institute of Sports and Remedial Massage (2020) Consultation Form

Institute of Sports and Remedial Massage (2023) Important Safety Information for Massage and Soft Tissue Therapists, https://www.theisrm.com/pdf/Safety-leaflet.pdf 

The British Acupuncture Council (2023) The Guide to Safe Practice for Acupuncture

March, J (2021) Rheumatology from a Soft Tissue Perspective. Online Seminar. 

Johnson, P (2025) An Introduction to Electro-Acupuncture.

The British Acupuncture Council (2026) Guidance for the use of heat lamps in your clinic.

​

 

1.       Bäumler P, Zhang W, Stübinger T, et al. Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies. BMJ Open 2021;11(9):e045961. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045961

2.       Witt CM, Pach D, Brinkhaus B, et al. Safety of acupuncture: results of a prospective observational study with 229,230 patients and introduction of a medical information and consent form. Forschende Komplementärmedizin 2009;16(2):91-97. doi: 10.1159/000209315

3.       White A. A cumulative review of the range and incidence of significant adverse events associated with acupuncture. Acupuncture In Medicine: Journal Of The British Medical Acupuncture Society 2004;22(3):122-33.

4.       MacPherson H, Thomas K, Walters S, et al. The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ Clinical research 2001;323(7311):486-87.